Hi All,

I picked up this lovely gal last week and have been giving her some TLC today. I'm struggling to identify the model though.

From what I can tell the chassis looks like a Precedent, but the badge is Philadelphia. I've been able to find Precedent models that look very similar, but nothing about Philadelphia as a brand.

The person I got it from said it was her mother's. Hasn't been turned on since the 80s. She always remembered her mother having it. So guessed at it being late 60s.

A couple of pictures in my google drive. Don't mind the mess

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10mEkt2hB5cvQIT-Oa76iyy76-jB-SsMo

Can anyone help with more info?

Yep, looks to be a re-badged Precedent stereogram from the 1960's, of which there were many models.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=703204606472212&set=pcb.703206256472047

Precedent was a brand of manufacturer A.W. Jacksons Industries; Melbourne & Sydney. Philadelphia may have been a house brand for a retailer, possibly in VIC.

Knowing the valve types in it might help tie it down to a particular model, however it would not have been unusual for many models to share the same valve line-up.

Hi Louise, you will get a bunch of advice here mainly about the danger of powering up a device that has been in storage cold for decades.
The danger is a switch on of power can damage some parts, mainly the filter capacitors in the chassis.
You may get away with just plugging it in and praying, but possibly smoke may come out!

How handy are you with electrical stuff?
Are you confident to dive in and handle wiring and electronic stuff?

The set should ideally be powered up gently to "re-form" the capacitors.
Usually this is done by applying a voltage reduced amount of power, OR, a supply that is current limited.
Then the set can 'wake up' gently capacitors reform and no damage done.

I think the build of the set is good style 1960's 1970's with an earthed 3 wire power cord and most likely the 240 volt parts will be safe to switch on if the set has been stored in a dry place.

Cheers, Fred.

You don't need a new dial, but I have about six brand new, for it, ex factory never been in a radio.

It is very similar in design to the Precedent S25 (see post #2).

The S25 (cabinet style) is a 5 valve, dual-wave radio with a 4-speed record changer. This model was sold throughout the 1960's (1962 to 1970) and was rebadged by many retailers.

The Y46 metal label on the back of the cabinet would most likely indicate the cabinet styling.

Precedent only had a handful of circuit designs, used many in model types over many years.

https://www.kevinchant.com/uploads/7/1/0/8/7108231/361-561-761_1.tif

I'm old enough to remember servicing very similar Precedents to that one, under warranty, when I worked for Cumberland Television in Drummoyne. So late 60's build would be right.

Since it was last used in the '80s, chances are good that it's safe to power up.

Are you handy with things electrical? If so, google Dim Bulb Tester.
This is the classic, safe way to bring old electronics out of hibernation.

The turntable may require attention, the grease in the bearings turns to cement with age. But those BSRs are pretty simple and easy to repair.

Precedent was the "own brand" of AW Jackson Industries in Annandale. A small company but their designs and build quality were good.
Electronics and cabinets were all made in-house.
Probably the neatest point-to-point chassis wiring you'll see anywhere! Somebody obviously cared.
The "Philadelphia" badge was applied to several models of stereograms they made.

Thanks for all the replies!

I haven't taken the back off it yet to see what's inside. I've only given it a good clean and wax on the outside and touch up paint on the badges and knows. The turntable is in very loosely but it feels like there's a latch on the inside I have to unhook to get it out. Only marking I can find on the TT says 'made in great Britain'.

Not planning on powering it up just yet. I would like to get it going eventually though. My electrical skills aren't advanced but I know enough to competently follow tutorials I'll give the dim bulb a google!

I think it was always safely stored. The person I got it from had cared about it because her mother loved it. They'd been storing it in their 'guest lounge room'. They invited me into the house. Everything was pretty immaculate. If there's any damage it probably came from having to take a ride in my dirty old corolla lol.

I'll post some more photos when I take the back off over the weekend.

The turntable is supposed to be "loose" because it sits on springs to avoid acoustic feedback.
There are a couple of screws on the deck that you are supposed to turn anticlockwise to lock it down for transport.

If the TT doesn't run, or runs slow, chances are that the only tools you'll need to fix it are a small flat-blade screwdriver, a nail file and some "sewing machine" oil.

the hardest thing about the dim bulb is finding a 60 or 75 watt politically-incorrect light bulb! Yes it must be an old-fashioned tungsten filament lamp.